CUSTOM Gibson Melody Maker *Billy Gibbons Tribute* 2008 dual pickup model

Up for sale is this really cool one-of-a-kind Gibson 2008 Melody Maker. I customized it as a tribute to Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top. Many of you probably know, Mr. Gibbons first guitar was a Gibson Melody Maker and he still plays it. Billy custom pinstriped his guitar to make it look unique. I had a lot of fun recreating this famous axe.

I started with a 2008 Gibson dual pickup Melody Maker in Sunburst finish. The guitar was hand pinstriped by car customizer. He did his best to match Billy's design and it came out very nice. Next, I changed out the stock pickups for BG MM90 models. These pickups were designed by Bryan Gunsher specifically for the reissue Melody Makers. They have a P90-like tone, which is slightly thicker than the stock pickups. The neck pickup is wound RWRP so there is no 60-cycle hum in the middle position. The stock 300K Gibson pots were replaced with a 250K Kramer volume pot (from a 1980s Kramer) and a 250K Fender No-Load tone pot (from a late model Telecaster). The stock ceramic capacitor was swapped for a .047 PIO cap and the stock switch was replaced with a Switchcraft 3-way model. I painted all the cavities with grounding paint to keep the noise down (the pic was taken while the paint was still wet). The upgraded electronics made a huge difference in the sound!

After that, I changed the stock top hat knobs for reflector-style knobs and the replaced the black switch tip with an amber one. It also has the cool little metal pointers under the knobs. I added Schaller strap locks and a ZZ Top guitar strap to top it off. Finally, I attached a ZZ Top logo to the headstock to tie everything together. It's an attention grabber! The guitar includes a Gibson gig bag and the original pickups (in case you ever want to change them back).

The package includes:

• 2008 Gibson Melody Maker
• Original Neck & Bridge Pickups
• Gibson Gig Bag
• ZZ Top Guitar Strap
• Bragging rights for owning this one-of-a-kind guitar
  

The guitar has been gently used, but is in excellent condition. There is some wear on the back of the neck that is visible in the pictures. Other than that, this Melody Maker has a few dings, scratches, nicks, and scrapes (I tried to get pics)... but nothing major. I think it will make a great addition to someone's collection.